Box elevator



1943- V A. R. THOMPSON ET AL 2,325,889

BOX ELEVATOR Filed June 10 1940 10 Sheets-Sheet 1 5 INVENTORS 0 A/berf A? Thompson 0 Pay M. Magnuson 1 1943- A. R. THOMPSON ET AL 2,325,889

BOX ELEVATOR I 10 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 10, 1940 INVENTORS A/ber/ R. From 290a Pay M. Magnuson ATTORI EY 1943- A. R. THOMPSON ET AL 2,325,889

BOX ELEVATOR Filed June 10, 1940 10 Sheets-Sheet 3 0 a 4 w m 3 I fi m 5 7 x m \3\5\ R mam 7 2 0 4 5 w a g 2 o B Aug; 1943. A. R. THOMPSON ET AL 2,325,889

BOX ELEVATOR 10 Sheet-Sheet 4 Filed June 10, 1940 INVENTORS ,4/ber/ AZ 7720/nps0/7 y Po M. May/111.5011 G I] ZTORN EY I A. R. THOMPSON ET m. 12,325,889

BOX ELEVATOR Filed June 10, 1940 10 Sheets-Sheet s Aug 3, 1943.

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a: Arrok EY u 1943. A. R. THOMPSON ET-AL 2,325,889

BOX ELEVATOR Filed June 10, 1940 10311eecs-Sheet 6 I NV EN T 0R8 A/berf ,Q. Thompson E Roy M. Magnuson ATTORNEY Aug. 3, 1943- A. R. THOMPSON ET AL BOX ELEVATOR 10 Sheets-Sheet 7 Filed June 10, 1940 m a mww Y mmu R V O h m T I 00A R a 8 Aug. 3; 1943- A. R. THOMPSON ET AL 2,325,339

BOX ELEVATOR Filed June 10, 1940 10 Sheets-Sheet 8 I -ELL I INVEN TORJ Albert A. Thompson Roy M. Magnuson ATTOR EY 1943- A., R. THOMPSON ET AL 2,325,889

BOX ELEVATOR Filed June 10, 1940 10 Sheets-Sheet 9 F 311 tl I zl7 INVENTOR5. Albert R. Thompson Roy M. Magnuson l BYGWQ A 1 ATTOR Y 3, 1943- A. R. THOMPSON ETAL 2,325,889

BOX ELEVATOR Filed June 10, 1940 10 Sheets-Sheet 10 IN V EN TORS A/be rt 7?. Thompson Roy Magnuson ATTOR Ei/ 1)- w hich supports a tower 300. Within this tower is an elevator 400. The box Bi fed into the bottom of the elevator by a conveyor 200. Sets of elevator tines 40I pick the box up off the conveyor and lift it up in the tower by an intermittent motion derived from the driving mechanismiflfldown in thevehicle. v

An operator is stationed in a car-I50 which he can position at the desired height on the stack sideof the stacker. In. the car is a transport 600 including a shifter GUI to transfer the box from the elevator to a conveyor 602, thus transporting the box from the elevator across to the top of the stack. i The mechanism of the stacker is completely -reversible so that by pressing a button at the' electric control-80D a reverse movement is obtained which enables the machine -to remove boxes from the stack. The box is deposited on At'the end of the vehiclefusually positioned adjacent the stack, which endiwill be referred one of which appears in Fig. 6. The axle 102 of wheel IOI is suitably mounted beneath rrtme member- I 031" 1 There; is a similar m'ember I03 on the other sid e of 'the vehicle' and'th rends f ofthese' rneinbersfare welded to ajcrossichannel I04.I =Meinber1-I03' is bent outwardly at ;I (IS-and is attached inside anha'n'nel I061 There'areitwo of these'channels; one at-jach' side of the vehicl 1 (Fig; '7) and they are the outer longitudinal members' ofi themain part. or the frame. -Lying parallel thereto and spaced inwardly therefrom are two" more longitudinal:members; the angles *m and 10s.. The longitudinal members ar'etied together by fore and aft transv'erse channels H19 and III! (Fig; 8) The four-corners of-tliis framework are reinforced with gussetplates III (Figs. 7

'7 and .9.).' 'Caster'wheels II2 (Figs; "fif andfl l are mounted at the rear corners of the frame;

A sub-frame is secured underneath thi's' r'nain frame Its'fore and aftiatransverse' channels 120, -I2I (Fig. '6) are fastened to transverse channels I09, IIII. (Fig; 8) by'bolt's I22. The longitudinal angles I23, I24 (Fig'; .'7)xare welded at their ends to transverse. channels-MEL; -I2I .(Fig. 8')

ch lowerlit down aseassa I I39 (Fig. '2) run ldngitudinally of the base frame. Their'end are welded to transverse angles I35, I31. Two transverse angles I40, I4! are secured at their'outer ends to the angles I34, I35, re-' pectively; and at their inner ends to angles I38, I39; respectively. Angles I49, MI lie in the same transverse plane; .QIEI appearing in section where I is broken away in Fig; 6. Angles I40, I4I appear in elevation in Figs and a portion of. I31 canbe seen at the rear'of the frame.

i Secured to angles l38, [39;at their middle are ,1 two "short angles I42,'-I I3,the latter appearing :to as; the front endn are a' pair ofwheels; IIIIf mounted (Fig. 7)

Q in elevation in Fig. The two front posts I370,

.I 3I eachhave a'bracesuch as MS attached at its .upper end to post ISI and at its lower end to frame member Ili3. I The stacker is pushedor pulled into the posi tion in'which it is to operate, the caster wheels I I2 being provided to facilitate maneuvering. If desired, the stacker could bep bp y power, inwhich eventthe wheel's IEBI would .be driven from a source .of power on theirametand, the wheels II2 would be made steerable; f

' Conveyor 200 This is a conveyor ofithe gravitytype. series ofjrollerslflI (Fig 1) are mounted inla, two-section'frarneWorkZOZ, the inner sectionof which is secured at its'inner endtoa' narrow framework 233Tinf which' short rollersilfl l are I [The front end offr'amework 2oz is securedto 'thf'ef'inne'r section r a. framework similar to'202' having 1 the long rollers' ltl'l.

The two. sections are'deta'chable atiiZIl thej'oufter section being numberedllfi". (Fig. 1).. -..When

these five sectionsof framework are. secured t'ogether they constitute arigid framework-for the conveyoras'a whole-'Whichis pivotedfon a shaft 29 JQurnailedin angles;-' ,I 4'2, I43; jAproplqI (Fig; i i-pivot d at Zt8' has notches which can be engagedwith the edge of thehorizontalfiange oiangle I31 to position -the conveyor fillin'var io usangular positions on its pivot .2 55.

: Thejpo-sitionshowninFig. 1 isi'o'r introducing 1 and 2) being provided'toarrest box-B inposi tionto be lifted off-"the rollersby engagement of elevator tines MI which are swungunder the bottom edige sfofthe box'wliic'h extend'out from; short rollersZiM; (Fig. '7)',- the conveyor having I been narrowed at this-pointfor this purpose;

angle I25 .ishwelded -to, the.verticaliflang i-of angle I23 aszshown Fig: tlrixllvhen thefibolts I22 are unfastened the sub-frame. cani be' re moved from the main frame; :jTheL: angle ..II5 "(Fig '7)- isgnot; part- .of-thelsub-irameebuti is welded to longitudinal angle I58. sozthatiits hori zontal; flange-will be in the; sam'eplane as "the; horizontal flange of :sub-Ifr-ame angle.;1I:25 :when

the sub frame isf bolted -inj place on the ,main.

transport When theupper notch in prop 2G1 isen'gaged with angle I31 the conveyor is positioned'so as to conduct the boxesout of the elevator after they have been lowered down' onto'thegrolle'rs by the elevator tineswl.

Sometimes it is'desired tozconvey boxes through thejmachinerwithout elevating them, as:when

placing boxes at'the bottom" of *a stacknear floor level, It was to meet situations like this that the outer end sections of the conveyor Zflll are made jdetachable. =A s shqwn in-"Fig. 1 Lend section 220 has been attached; Limit stops] II]. are swung out f thepath of--.th eboxes and-theboxesare placed on the'rear end of conveyorii d an d de- .scend by I gravity overthe rollers and outw'over extension 226 where. they are removed andplaced on the floor or on the low stack; After the stack has reached a sufiicient 1height,the section 22!; can be detached and the car 16 0 brought down to the bottom so. thatthe stacking operation may proceed from there on byusin'gelevatcr 4M and The tower serves assuppor t and'guide fonthe lzRefe'rring again-to Fig." 4, the tbQttOm; ends of 'ment. I

elevator shaits' 42] ,'-.423'.la're fitted" with keys to engage keyways 520,?521 in tube "522, 523;:respectively. A's. shown.in'Fig.-.5; the tube.42,3 is slotted to receive akey 52lheldby' screws 525 to r a'curved platerfldia'stened byscrewsz52'l- (Fig; 4)

toitube 423.;Key-524 (Fig: 5),;islides in'ikeyway 521i of-tube 523 .;*Tubes522',*52 3 do not reciprocatebut. are provided with;segmental. gears 530,

l f 53! for engagement withracks by which thetubes y are periodically oscillated, the oscillatory move: me'nt being; transmitted through the "keys to shafts; 42 I, 423 during; their; reciprocatory'move- Rest tu es '4 3l;, 433 do minerals, they merely "oscillate :to swing their tines 1402" under the boxes: 2c away; as needed. Accordingly,

7' tubes-532,133 are welded to the ends of resttuhes MI, 433 and are provided withgear segments 534, 535 which engageawithwracks-to impart-the ings (Fig. 6) I are-'mounted on the' horizontal the other :side ofthemachine longitudinal'angle 158.4-

are mountedon "Fig;- I'll shows the 1 bearing construction and "mounting. 'lihe 'cages of thefbearings, such: as

5351531; are welded to a plate-549 to establish "the requirerl center to center spacing; The" rack 550 has a roller 565 and restrack 554has a roller: 556. These rollers follow. a camvtrack 561 (Fig; 1) formed on-the inside of elevator crank 509-. A similar cam track 568 (Fig; 6-) is lforrnedon' the inside of the crank for elevator E 55, '555 are 'adjacent 56l'and a similar nestof racks on the' other side are adjacent 558.

The 'arrangement of the cams, racks, and Segmental gears on the oscillating shafts can also -oe seenjin Fig. 9 where it will a'ppear that upon rotation 'of common drive shaft 5H! connectin rods 50lan'd 5l3'will operate to vertically re- 5 1 cipl'ocatethe elevator tubesand at the same time the cam track-5El'will; by engagernent with the III against the bottom of tube- 532-by ;a screw 5451 i The bo1ts'543.;544. of'clamps 5 41, 5,42 pass through plate 540' and the horizontal flange of angle lill.

Inthis-same'manrier' the four. {oscillating shafts I lon mlandtthe' four on Hit-aresupported for oscillationbutare "restrained from a ial move .are engaged by horizontally. reciprocating racks.-

Gear segments530f53l pfor os'c'illating the elevator'tubes' are disposed in the same horizontal lowerplane. j; sseanbe seenin Fig. '1'O',-'theracks forfthe elevatortubes are in the-upper plane,

These "elevator racks550 55] engage gees-s sm' ts 53-l'-"'(Fig.' n. in the *lowe'rffplane (Fig. 510) are rest racks 554i 555 which engage gear segments 534, (FfigflLQSinctlie elevator tuhesareto be oscillated" unisdn'r'a'chs 550, 551; are fastened rigidlyjtog'ether?in' 'parj allelism by means of endblocks556, 55lto which on opposite sides of the vertical '{plane of 'the elevator tubes; so that when the racks recipro} cate the tubes Ml; 423-"w'ill oscillate'inopposite directions to" swing the tines in and out as illustrated in Figs. 13 and', 14 fLikewise-racks554 5 nd 555 are'arranged'onoppositesides to oscillateci'est tubes 43|,J433 oppositely; I I Angle pieces; such as560 (Fig are s ecured to channel end supports 55! 562* which areflange'd at the base for securing to the frame I of the vehicle. Channel 5BII' is secured at 563 followers 565, 566 caiise reciprocation of the elevator and rest racks to oscillate the elevator and r es t" tubes tobring their tines into and fout'oiplay-as described. 7 t p "Broadly; the configuration "of the cam track indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 1, isa short '-threW -and a long throw interconnected by paths I I v V 3 v to give smooth acceleration and deceleration from fiangeof longitudinal angle H11 (Flg.1 7);.fS1m.-

V I I I tr e two extreme positions. Thepath of short ilarly; theabearingsc for theoscillating tubes on radius -is 515 and the follower Eififi is disposed therein inlthe particular position shown. HThe other follower565 is disposed injthe path of long radius 57!. In this position'of the camp the ele}- vator racks connected to 5 are shiftedtoward the front of the stackerfto' hold elevator tines d9! outwardly fronijthecenter of .the'tower as shcwn.' And 'the restracks connected to 566 (which'-i s' inshort radiuspath 51B) are also shifteditoward. the front of the stacker to hold rest tines flil2 inwardly in their box supporting position) This relationship can also be seen in ,9 where the short radius path 5l6is'posi h n d nearer the axis of'shaft 5 I is than the ,long- I radiuspath 51L. The upper racks 550,- 551 appear at the left of the figure but are broken awayat j thje right to showthe lower racks-554, 555 unders f neathm Theconnection between roller-5 5 5: and

rack 553 is also bi'okenawaygbecause thisroller ison the upper-rack 550-as shown-in Fig. 10. As

shown in Fig." 9, the upper or elevator racks 550,

551 are shifted toward the frontiofthe stacker' and due to their. engagement with segmental gears 530, 53!, the elevator oscillating tubes-have been rotatedasfollows: 523 'clockwise1522-counterclockwise. This has resulted in swinging the elevator tines 56! (showndotted) 'outwardly. The lower ,or rest -racks,;554,' 555 are also shifted to the right due to roller 5665 being in shortradius path 5150f the'cann and by engagement with gear segments 534, 535:have rotated oscil- I lating shafts 532, 533 as follows, 532 counterclockwise; 533 clockwise. This has resulted in swinging rest tines 452' (shown'dotted) into their box supporting positions-as shown. It will be noted: that the" racks and tines on the-opposite side of the-machine have taken up corresponding positions I I "Nowreferring-to Fig.1;- if the'drive shaft 5!!! a is rotated counterclockwise the elevator'lwill lift boxes. First roller 565 will leave long-radius path 51] and enter short-radiuspath 515; This W111 cause the elevator racks to shifttoward the rear of the machine; swinging elevator tines 4! V in, bottom tines'ADl swinging under box 3 rest- 7 ing on conveyor 20E). Crank pin 598 will mean-l (Fig; 9) to "transverse-framechannel H6 a'nd channel 562 is secured at- 564 -tovchanne1'109;

while have "passed through bottom dead center and will start toolift the elevator tubes bringing t nes' lfll into engagement with' the boxfand lifting it up ofi the con'veyori If there are other bxes mm? eyam Q95 4? ,Q

v ath 57 cau in -$29K he ele a qrlitub .b m Q carried ppw a r King on tines 41,

- v t u th ,4 bcx is aqmitflegl toths gl ev tororrs'leg mounte 1 Ma k? .g -u l 1 9 1 whi i m -sxampa- B m 2 1 same time lift the boxq sgiq gxt th $0 M 155. will 11 and wm :rves fi ilaa 91 W? 1 9 n t wobstrm fi e-kapm te 5 9? hich the ie r i;

1 shi t n tbw wt mwls. w w m e eva or $19 1 v in the retur-n s ui pn o dri l A h up'a f qt le ...bp. s 2: .1 1 th b x i fi wi y 25 1 -1 lip t e Lb trpk net sigielbf,

is I m s a e e49 causes the carriageto reciprocate on the n oscillating frain'elrods 543, E-H'of the carriage 655, e5 5 slide gin bear holes in castings tic, I 641. 1 Platform 6D] has a. pair of racks 65]. 658 welded to itssundersides Racks 65i, 658 mesh w ithfthe short stroke of the carriage, There is @Figl 31 tO'BQfdiagIQmmaticalIy illustrate'the action of theshifterfi Th'e referencenume azs will be found applied to the corresponding-actual parts inIFig. l5. 'Note'that H and 635re1nain .fixed throughout'Figs;'31 C034 while the other 1 Plate he eemed as streetcar bolted to angle. I l0, and plate 538 :is' welded to "abracket eaelbpit'ed to angle m:

I farriage for the 1 shifter" is "carried the oscillating frame'and "refcipro'cates thereupon. This carriage. is constructed of two castings M); 64! :(Fig; secured by pins suite a parrotrods 643, 644 '(Fieflsyyrnemds 64a, 64 4" slide' in beari g brackets 545, 645 which are mounte'd on the angles .632, 53s (Figil'i). r theos cillating i mm} CainIQN re'ciprocates carriage. Follower 643 supported in the car' framework; Another 7 arrn B49 issecured to shaft 648 and is pivotally 15 connectd at650 to a link 65 I which isjpivotally c 'nnect'ed'toe shaft sszinounte infdep'ending portions easiest (Fig. '16) 'ofcasting err ofthe carriage. .When camv B26 rotates; ,bell' crank B41,

slidingdh bearings 545; 646 on'thel'osclllating 7 frame.

The shifter platform '68! reciprocates on the carriage, Platform Bill has askirt in the end I walls o'f. which rodstfi-i, .555 are secured Rods with gears 559. tfifl lrespectively, which: are 3 ue d'xm t 95. f. mi s- W 5 Jam secured against movement relative thereto by set screws flPinio'ns 651,562 arern ounted' on the ends ofQshaftlfiSZ which is s upportedlin carriage casting 64L .Pinions 66 652 engage ra'cksGSSJ, Q-

I 554 .welded t angles ,esagecjzi or t e oscillatin frame. .Thus when'the carriage is reciprocat d by bell crank 641; Maine p inions cs1, canon on the racks 663. 664, and the; gearsjfi fl jlififi drive the racks 65L 5 e e 'impar iee 40' longfstroke to the platformefiill as compared s le lir r iqn s ed d ffer nt al which. advantageous because the shifter. has to enter the elevator, pick np thefbox, and'jwithdraw as a} rapidly aspossibleg some idea o flthe; relative speedscanbe had by qconsidering that rack 654; being the locus of the instantaneous centersof rotation dfpinion 52 a point onthe pitch-;circle x diametricallyfaboveithe instantaneods'center has twicetthe lineari speed of the pinion center (or shaft652). sojthat if rack G58 engaged directly with pinion 862 it would movetwice as fast as the ca'rriag'e'. But'thefre isa further speedine crease due to the geartfidsoflthat the speed of therack'658 (and platfor n GOI is-equaltothe parts m'oveC In Fig '31 reciprocating parts Gilland 544 arefat' the forward end of'theirstroire 65 versed thef cycle offifikisreversed. It begins with the po'sition' shown 'in'Fig'. 31 and then pro 75 ceeds through the positions hown' in Figs; 34. 33,-

32, 31, in the "order named;

Atthe forward end of its stroke the shifter 6 01 (Fig/1) 'either' deposits the box on conveyor 602 or removes the box therefrom, depending on the direction in which the stacker'is being operated.. The boxes can berernov'ed from the end of conveyor 652 were s'tack or they can be transferred to a swingingfconveyor such as issorne-' timesfused in warehousestodistributeboxes in radial directions fjrom 'a central discharge point.- Conveyor 602 comprises roller discs fifld (Fig.

is) pivotally mounted on the inside of rails Bil,

'5'l2which are supported on their rear ends" on brackets 63'I,' 639 and at their front 7 ends on brackets 513((Flg. 'l 5)" and fillljFigi '1). End stops 615, 516 (Figs.- 15 andld)" are secured to the rear ends of rails Ell, 612 to preventmoyement ofboxes into-the elevator by conveyor 69?.

These stops also serve to' position" boxes entering the elevatorifor'shi'ftcr 6M to'pick them up."

Figs; 19113027 illustratel the timing of" the ole vatorand shifter; Fig. 19 represents the parts 1 in the relative positions" they occupy inFig. '1. It-will be recalled that drive shaft fil l fhas a crank 509 and crank pin fiilS which verticallyreciprocate elevator tubes 42!, '423,and that a cam 561 is formedlintegrally with crankliiill to shiftraoksby means or followers] Follower see operates elevator racks 550,55! to oscillate e'le;

vatoir shafts 421,123 to swingelevator tines dill in and out',- and follower 566-1o'p'erates rest racks" 554,-1555 to oscillate restshafts 113i; 433 to swing rest tines-"4B2 in" andout. Shaft 5L0 isrotatedclockwise to lower boxes and counterclockwise to lift boxes: If the motion iscounterclockwise-the nextposition of the partsfisj shown in Fig. 20 where elevator tines 4M are swinging in under b gs! on rest'tines 452, and. shifter 58! is'rem'oving'boxBZfrom the elevator; ShifterBQi" is .up and mo'ving forward. In Fig. 21 elevator tinesf l lll are liftingbox Bl up oif'rest tinesAD'E, and shifter 6%} l has r'emovecl box B2 farther from; theelevat'or. In Fig; 22 the elevator tines Mil are'lifting box'Blpresttines 4 82 have swung out;

and shi-fter 68 l is nearing the end of its forward 'stroke'inthe up position. In Fig 23 elevator tines dill arene'aring the top of their stroke, as

indicatedby the proximity of crank-pin; 508 to top dead center. Thetines ltli have lifted box Bl above rest'tihesflfl; Shifter 651 has lowered box B2 onto' conveyor 602. In Fig. 24' ,therest tines 4 02 are swinging in under the box Bl while elevator tines 40! are at the top of their stroke, crank pin: 508 havingv arrived'at top dead center. Shifter Bill is starting its rearward stroke in the down position; In Fig. 25 the elevator tines 4G2 have-started their down stroke and have left box 'BI on test tines 402. Shifter Bill is entering under box BLF In Fig; 26;elevator 'ti nes 491 are still descending, havingrsw'ung out, and shifter 60! has'moved farther underbox Bl on'res't tines 402. InFigL'Z'TeleyatQrtines 46! arestill descending and being in theiout position are clearing box Bl. Shifter 60| is at the end of its rearward stroke in the down position. U The next step is Fig. Ill-again where shifter 6M liftsthe box 'oifrest tines 402;] This cycle iscornpleted with each revolution of drive shaft '5), -a box being removed .fromthe. elevator at each revolution.

3 When drive shaft 5H3 rotates clockwise (Fig. 19) 'the cycleis reversed; The next position is Fig. 27'whereshifter.6M has deposited box Bl on rest tinesllfill Elevator tines are rising' (see crank pin 593) ]and"are passing by the .elevatoras'before.

: tion differs from the mobile sta'ckeronly .in the duplication of transports 59B andctlie provision carriage. v 4. In a box elevator having elevator tines for Mil-,xcomprising.theelevator tubes with their tines (lei and therest'tubeswith their tines-,. is supportedin the floors of the built/linger? in an enclosed shaft desired; in :the" same manner in which it is supported in tower 3%. Theldrivingc mechanism 588 is: under the elevator dill? in exactly. the same position itl'o'ccupied relative thereto intheistackeru Instead ofhav'ing only one transport 5% in 'a car, each'floor 9&2, 903, 964 would have its indi vidual transport. These transports would each have 'itsshifter 60! and'conveyor i582. andiwould be in every respect. substantially identical with thatin the stacker except theta clutch 955 '(Fig.

Y 35'); would be placed ineach shaft tilt Comrest -ltine's,f a supportiand carriage slidably mounted onlsaid support, said shifter'being slide ably mounted on. said carriage. i:

. 5. Ina box eleVatorhaving elevatoritinesfor rest tines, Ja mov'ablev support, a carriage slidably:mounted-on.saidfsupport, said shifter being islidably mounted on..said-..'carriage,y and cam meanstoperative. to? raise andlower said support and: to slides'aidcarriage on said support.

q 6. :Ina box, elevator, having elevator tincs'for parison of Fig. 35 with Fig-i 18.will show that the driving; mechanisms are otherwise .the same; A bevel. 610 wouldrbe-placed on vertical shaft 5'52 at each floor to drivethe shaft 6 i *1 of eachshifter; Theclutch 935 merely enables-thetransport Set selected for use to be put into operation so that the boxes; could be automatically removed from the elevator 188 (Figs 3b) at any floor; J. The conmoving boxes vertically andirest tines for ,sup-' porting boxeswhen they are notbeing moved by said" elevator tines, a shifter to remove boxes from said elevator when the boxes arevon said resttines,.asupport, a carriage slidably mounted on saidvsupportgsaid shifter being slidably mountedlonlsaid carriage, and meansto' actuate saidishifter including a rack mend support, a

r rackonsai'd shifter, andlgearspivotally mounted .veyor- '2llo would be located at the bottornof. the

Thusthe permanent installaof a separate driving Whilewe have shown and described-two forms Q of the invention, itis to be understood that it is capable, of 'variationsuand changes from the embodiments shown without departing from the ,spiriton scope of the invention. f

,a-wwe cl im:

:11, An elevator for handling boxes and the like j comprising a: plurality of' reciprocatory'tubes having elevator tines thereon, a pluralitycof tubes having rest tines .thereon,.a drive shaft, a crank connected to said shaft forreciprocatingsaid elevator tubes, cam means connected to i said shaft, a rack and pinion for oscillating each of said tubes, certain ofsaid racks and pinions being operated by one portion of said cam means for oscillating said rest tinetubes and other of said racks and pinions being operated by an opposite 7 portion of said cam means for oscillating said elevator tine tubes in timed relation with/said rest tine tubes.

2. An elevator for handling boxes and the like comprising a plurality. of reciprocatory tubes havingelevator tines thereon, a plurality of tubes having rest tines thereon, a drive shaft, a crank. connected tosaidshaftfor reciprocating said 1 elevator tubes, cam means connected to said shaft, a rack and pinion for oscillating each of said tubes, said racks and pinions being operated by said cam means, said crank and ca m means being constructed to cause reverse operation, of the elevator upon reverse rotation'of said drive shaft. 7

3. In a box elevator having elevator tines-for moving boxes vertically and rest'tines for supportingboxes when they are not being moved by said elevator tines, alshifter to remove boxes from said elevator when the boxes are on said rest tines, a carriage for said shifter, means to raise and lower said carriage, and means to reciprocate said shifter with respect to said moving boxes vertically and rest tines for supby saidelevatoritines,ar'box shifter, a carriage- .for isaidshifter a support for said carriage,

means to raise and lower said support so "as to po'sitiontheboxeengaging.surface of said shifter in a plane below:the resttines. on which the box is'resting: when saidsupport is lowered and in a plane above saidatin'es when said support isa raised,i.and means. to reciprocate saidshifter on sai-dg carriage so that'sa'id shiftercis projected into the elevator in said lower-plane and is withdrawn therefrom in said upper plane. 8.'I n a box elevator having elevator tinesfor moving boxes vertically and, rest tines for supporting boxeswhenthey 'arelnot being moved .by saidelevatontinesi apex-shifter, a carriage for said shifter; a support ,for said carriage, means to raise and lower said support so as to position the box-engaging surface, of said shifter: in a plane belowthe-rest, tines on whichrthe box, is

resting gwhen said-support isjlowered andin a 9. In abox iele vator "having elevator tinesfor moving"boxes'verti'callyand rest tines for sup-- porting boxes when they are not being'moved by said elevator tines, a box shifter','a carriage for-said shifter; a support forsaid carriage, means to raise and lower said support so as to position the 'b'o'x -enga ging surface of said shifter in a plane below the rest tines on which'the box is resting-when said support isloweredand in a plane above said tines when said support is raised, means to reciprocate'said shifter on said carriage s'othat said shifter is projectedinto-the porting boxes whenthey areinot beingmoved by said elevator tines,' a-shifter' toremove boxes from said elevator [when theiboxes are on said -elevato1 in"said lower plane. and is withdrawn therefrom in said upper plane, and a row of discs mountedon said support along each side of said shifter, a 'plane tangent to the tops of said discs:beingiiintermediate said upper! and lowerlplanes of travel'ofsaid'shifter.v

.. t10i*Ina' box elevator; elevator members havingelevator tinesfthereonyrest members having rest tines thereon, means including a crank'for reciprocating said elevator members, and means for oscillating said elevator and rest members to move said tines into and out of box-engaging position, including a cam associated with said crank having a long-radius portion and a shortradius portion, two cam followers, one for said elevator members, the other for .said rest members, means to oscillate said elevator members actuated by one of said followers, means tov oscillate said rest members actuated by the other of said followers, said two oscillating means and said two followers being arranged so that said elevator tines are in box-engaging position when said elevator follower is in contact with one of said cam'portions and so that said rest tines are in box-engaging position when said rest follower is in contact with said same cam portion.

11. A mechanism for shifting articles from one place to another comprising-tr shifter adapted to be brought into carrying engagement with the article, a carriage for said shifter, means'to reciprocate said shifter with respect to said car riage, a movable support for said carriage,--means to reciprocate said carriage on said support,-

means to elevate said support operable to raise said support-at one end of the reciprocatory stroke of said shifter to enable saidshifter to pick up the article and operable at the other end of the stroke to lower said support to enable said shifter to set the article down.

12. A mechanism for shifting articles from one I shifter and to lower said support at the other end of the stroke.

13. A mechanism for shifting articles from one place to another comprising, a shifter adapted to be broughtinto carrying engagementwith the article, a carriagefor said shifter; said shifter being slidably mounted on said carriage, a movable support for said carriage, said carriage being slidably mounted on said support, means to reciprocate said carriage and said shifter, including motion-multiplying means to impart a longer stroke to said shifter than to said carriage, and

posite sides of the axis of rotation of a drive element for operating said mechanism, comprising a cam on said drive element and rotatable about said axis, said cam having a long radius portion andan opposite short radius portion, a

pair of membersfor engaging said devices, said members being positioned on opposite sides of said axis and; extending transversely thereof substantially parallel to each other and being supported for substantially linear movement in said position, and a cam follower on each said member, said followers engaging opposite portions of said cam and one follower adapted to engage said long radius portion of said cam when the other engages the short radius portion thereof. 4

15. A mechanism'for imparting a reci rocatory motion to a plurality of devices positionediabout thev axis of rotation of a drive member for opcrating said mechanism, comprising a cam on said drive member androtatable about said axis, I

said cam having a long radius portion and a short radius portion, an elongated "member having a' cam follower engaged with said cam, a second elongated member having another cam follower engaged with an opposite portion of '7 said cam, said elongated members being posimeans to elevate said support actuated in timed relation with said reciprocating means to raise said support 'at one end of the reciprocatory stroke of said carriage and shifter and to lower said support at the other end of the stroke, said elevating and reciprocating means including cam means reversible in operation to enable said shifter to move articles ineither one direction or I the other. a

14. A mechanism for imparting a reciprocatory motion to a plurality of devices positioned on optioned on opposite sides or said-axis and extending transversely thereof: and said members being slidably supported lengthwise thereof on both sides of their respective followers for linear movement in said position, each of said elongated members engaging one'of said devicespositiond on one side of said axis and engaginga second device positioned on the opposite sideof said axis, and one of saidfollowers being adapted to engage the long radius portion of said cam when therother engages the short radius portion Q thereof.

16. A box elevatorcomprisinga support forming an elevator shaft, a plurality of verticalrest tmembers associated with said support and having horizontal rest tines extending therefrom,

and spaced apart thereon to providea plurality of box supporting stations at which boxes are to be shifted to and from said elevator, a plurality of vertical elevator members having horizontal elevator tine's extending therefrom for supporting and conveying boxes to said stations,

certain of said restmembers and elevator members being positioned adjacent one side-of said elevator shaftandothers being positioned-ad- 'jacen't the opposite side of said elevator shaft, the distance between said oppos te rest members r and elevator members being-such as to permit shifting of boxes to and fromsupporting engagement with said rest and elevator tines at each of said stations, means to'oscillat'e said rest and elevator tines and in such manner that said tines assumea position generally normal to said sides when inbox supporting position and assume a position generally paralleling. said sides when clear of the boxes, and means for reciprocat ing said elevator members vertically whereby said elevator tines may convey boxes from one station-to anothen' w r a V a ALBERT R. THOMPSON.

. ROY M. ,MAGNUSON. 

